This road sign shows that ?

Explanation

On the crossing road, reversible traffic is in operation.

The blue rectangular sign with a horizontal double-headed arrow is the information sign for "entering a road with reversible traffic". Reversible traffic means that one or more lanes of that road change direction according to the time of day: one way in the morning and the opposite way in the evening. These lanes are identified by special reversible signals overhead and by a double broken line on either side.

The practical message of the sign for you is this: after turning onto that road, your duty is set by the signal above the lane, not by habit. While the reversible signal is off, entering that lane is prohibited and you must use the other lanes. The safety reason is obvious: a lane open to you right now may be carrying the opposing traffic load a few hours later, and entering it by mistake means a head-on collision.

The distinction to memorise is the shape of the arrow: a single-headed arrow on a blue field means a one-way road in that direction, but a double-headed arrow means two directions that alternate. Remember too that a blue rectangular sign informs and does not prescribe a direction of travel; the mandatory direction signs are round and blue.

• This meaning belongs to the round blue mandatory signs. The rectangular sign in this picture imposes no direction on you and merely announces a property of the road ahead. • A one-way crossing road is announced by a similar sign whose arrow is single-headed. The difference is only that second arrowhead, and that small detail forms the main trap of the question.

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